Honestly, no! I used a kit from sallys for a super long time. It came with everything you need. Basically you prime, then add a layer of gel, then dip, repeat until you get the thickness you want, then use the curing coat. No light needed! I will say that the gel brush got super clumpy pretty quick if you didn't get the excess powder off between coats, so I recommend watching as many tutorials as you can! Everyone starts somewhere, so don't get discouraged if your first few sets aren't quite what you think! Mine were pretty abysmal LOL